HANA

by Rainyday9090

For the longest time I studied revenge to the exclusion of all else. I built my first torture chamber in the dark vaults of imagination. Lying on bloody sheets in the Healing Hall I discovered doors within my mind that I'd not found before, doors that even a child of nine knows should not be opened. Doors that never close again. I threw them wide. Revenge is what I want.

40. Chapter 40

Hello, beautiful readers. Hope you had a great week.

Thank you so much for your support, and I hope you enjoy the chapter and all the clues to what you have been asking about.

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" Good morning, Seoul, it's Monday morning," the cheerful TV host, waking up the whole city; seemed to be the only one with such excitement about the start of another work week. The famous News anchor got his highest rating because every house just had him playing as background noise while they got ready for the day. His cheerfulness she always found fake; Jandi had turned her attention to the eggs she was making. Waking up an hour before the sun, she had already completed her run and had a good long shower before deciding to make breakfast for her and Ctrl. The weekend he spent working nonstop, it was an expected choice she made to make him his favorite breakfast dishes before heading to school. Technically not quite his favorite, but close. Nobody compares to Mrs. Kim's cooking.

By the time the clock hit 6:35, she had finished her breakfast and neatly arranged his for when he woke up. Luckily, he doesn't have to wake up before the sun and gets to sleep in even on weekdays. The bus she had to catch to take her to the train station, her day that had started well, was proving to be a bad monday once she left her home. The bus she missed wasn't enough; her regular train had also malfunctioned and stopped for more than 10 minutes halfway through the city. She knew she was going to arrive late, but she didn't care at this point. Nothing that happened at that school matters anymore. Her late slip was placed in her jacket pocket, and she headed straight to the teacher's office. Her homeroom teacher, as always, would scream for 5 minutes and then find something for her to do. The library hours she needs to complete, she was given more hours.

Her soundless steps, their math teacher writing on the board, hadn't even heard her walk in as she headed to her desk. Her computer turned on; she had other things to do than worry about the sample calculus problems he was going on and about. Both she and Ctrl reviewed every file on Woobin's family folder yesterday; she planned to go over it one more time. The snippet video they had of Woobin's brother was shown to Bom after they called him home.

" Who is this?" Bom had asked, pointing at the screen with the fork he was eating his breakfast with. Sunday morning, they better have a great excuse to wake him up and have him drive here.

" I think he is this guy's brother. '' Jandi slid the picture of Woo Bin and his dad. She didn't have to explain further, Everyone knew who Woobin's father was.

" Well, we are unsure if he is his brother," Ctrl stepped in.

" I checked all their family documents and he only has two sons, Woobin and the one working as the General manager for their company."

" I don't know who this one is, but he is not on their documents," Ctrl refuted her claim. The families of the F4 they al had done an extensive search; he would be the first to go mad if they had missed anything. His hope is that somebody had intentionally hidden this guy or Jandi's claim was not true. He chose to believe the first one because Jandi usually was correct.

"Maybe adapted?" he questioned, but that would still show up on documents.
" How do you know he is his brother?" Bom asked Jandi. The question she hadn't prepared a quick answer for; she needed some seconds, but every second she took was raising suspicion for Bom, who could read her eyes.

" I heard them call him that when I was following him." She told the truth by omitting who was calling him that.

" People call each other that all the time doesn't mean "

" Why were you following him?" Bom, signaling for Ctrl to stop talking, asked the more important question.

" Huh," she sighed, knowing what would come from Bom once she told him. She knew she couldn't lie to him, she had to mask the lie in between truths.

" I have seen him three times now, and every time I see him I get this weird feeling that there i something with him"

" Huh," Bom sighed as he sat back. Jandi knew what he was going to say

"It's not just my intuition; he asked if he had met me before and my face looked familiar." she continued once she realized Bom was seriously listening to her even though his eyes were on the breakfast he was eating. There is only one reason a man she has never met would think her face looked familiar.

" Yesterday, he asked if I had a sister." Jandi knew she could have said that from the beginning to convince them, but the reaction she got was what she expected. The food he was bringing to his lips sent back down to the plate, Bom raised his scary eyes her way. Ctrl, who had heard about it yesterday when she arrived, was also waiting to see Bom's reaction. Both had gotten the reaction they expected.

"He is the first person to ask since I have been around that school. Not even the teachers?" Jandi added as she saw Bom sit back after grabbing his drink. He is thinking. That is the only clue she needed to convince how this man needed to go on their wall filled with ghost-like figures they had wasted years hunting. Maybe finally they have gotten one that can lead them to the others. If that becomes the case, then she might finally be happy about wasting 3 years at that school which has finally led her to this. To be honest, she might even be okay with the F4 boys because if not for them, she might have gotten this man.

" He looks old enough to be at that school at that time. If he wasn't involved, at least he knows something. My intuition is never wrong," she added. She was using her so-called intuition to cover how her body reacts to being around that man. Her ever-in-control mind he messes with; she has to find out Why.

"We have all the school files from that year; did you find any info?" Bom returning to his food asked.

" We will go through all the files from that year again today," Ctrl gave himself and Jandi a job that will take over their whole Sunday.

" I will get some info from school." Jandi had given herself a task for Monday.

" We need a name and/or a clear picture" Bom was requesting things he could use to look for any information on the man. His connection across the underground world, there were a lot of people who owed him favors that might recognize this man's face.

" If you get an address, I will put people to follow him" was the solution Bom gave, and Jandi had spent the rest of the weekend convincing herself she would do anything to get a name to attach to that face. If she was lucky, even the story of why his name was not on any school files. Her first task was to check all files. Then, Jihoo was used to snoop for some information. Woobin, being one of his friends, he should know a lot about the so-called brother. Her morning chat with Jihoo she missed by being late; she was waiting until their morning break time to head to his office. The main thing she needs is a name. With her quick steps out of the classroom, she only had one goal in mind as she placed in her earphones and fastened her steps. Right when she clicked to play, the beat woke up her ears, forcing her face to lift from the floor she always keeps it facing.

Jihoo's office she walked in minutes later, she was welcomed with a smile that reminded her of the innocence and kindness she attaches to him to the point his motivations were never second-guessed. Going against the teaching she had received, she had used the month she had known Jihoo to trust him enough not to question what he hid behind his smiles. The mask he wears very well; it was unfortunate how both were using their fake personas to get closer. The insecure and worryfilled boy he hides behind his title, Jihoo, is the only one questioning when she will remove the rose-colored glass she looks at him with and get to know him. The stories he tells her she listens to carefully, he knew it wasn't her fault. It was on him to seriously open up. It was on him to trust her and start opening up. It just felt odd to do so when he knew nothing about her. The way she always found a way to lead the conversation to something else when he asked about her family or past, Jihoo was smart enough to knwo she didn't like talking about them. Her smiles faded away the moment he ass any quetsion; he had been careful not to go there. He was fine being the one to make her smile and be at ease. Her story he was willing to wait until she felt comfortable enough to tell him; Jihoo wasn't aware that her choice would be never to tell him. He was more than happy just being around the girl who had become the most interesting person in his life.

Her past she never talks about, even with herself; there was only one person who she didn't want to know about any of it. It was the one sitting on his desk smiling at her. She might not know it yet, but one of the reasons she likes spending time with Jihoo is sole because she can just exist around him. Her past, her identity, her traumas... none of them were questioned or mattered when she was around him. All the darkness she lives with, which she doesn't want to think about, he had perfected, creating a place for her to exist without them. Even if it was for brief moments throughout her day, she could forget everything that had dense her heart until it became metal. That was the best gift he gave her, an escape from her reality. A priceless gift that has led him to own several firsts in her life. Her first crush, her first kiss, her first boyfriend ... were only a few of the first titles he would have by the end of the year. But that wasn't the main reason he was number sole reason he was being given an opportunity to access her heart was because he had demonstrated he cared about her in a way she understood. The people who claimed to love her the main way they showed it was to protect her, and Jihoo had done that since day one. The other love language of his she might now understand or pick on, but that one was obvious. The only real love language she understood in strangers, all the ways he protected her, was what had won him the privileges he wasn't even aware of yet. All of which she knew will have to come to an end one day. Although she trusted his kindness and warmth, she was sure he would change his mind about her if he ever knew about her past. The day his smile fades away when he looks at her, she has to end it all before that day happens. The memory she wanted to keep of him was as he was now.

" So your friend is back?' she asked as she headed to the line of files on his desk she knew were waiting for her to pick up.

" Woobin? He was bored at home," Jihoo responded; he was sure she was asking about the news spreading across the school. It seems like everyone across campus had heard about Woobin's return.

" School being his entertainment explains a lot," Jandi's small smirk. She started filtering the files by destination. Some must be submitted to the administration, some to teachers, and some to the school director's secretary.

"He's not going to do anything." Jihoo's short statement, Jandi had no idea what had changed from before that would guarantee Woobin wouldn't continue bullying and terrorizing the whole school. Did he learn his lesson? She questioned, but she knew men like him too well to know they don't learn with one lesson. Maybe she will get to teach him another lesson. Just the thought had brought some joy to her.

" You don't have to be scared of him." Jihoo's statement had only forced her smirk to get bigger. There was not even a 0.001% fear when it came to Woobin, his family maybe but now him. She was more scared of the smiling and cheerful Yijeong than him. The person she was scared of when it came to F4 didn't include Jihoo or Woobin. Even Yijeong wouldn't be considered scary, but she was unsure of his too-friendly personality. Extroverts who are over-friendly were always suspicious to her. The only one she would use the word fear to describe was the group leader. More than what he could do to her, what she feared was how suspicious of her he was and how much he knew already. On top of that, there was a level of fear she couldn't explain that came from realizing how much rage he brought out of her. The boy, who represents everything she hates, he was an easy target to place both her hatred and fear.

" I can't believe a bully like him will get handed a company someday?" She started fishing for information that way.

" I am hoping he will mature by the time that happens. But his brother is taking over, so he won't be fully in charge." Jihoo wasn't even remotely suspicious about where she was leading the conversation as he continued responding to his emails.

" Oh, he has a brother?"

" He has older brothers. Lucky him, he is the last born." Jihoo seemed jealous of the responsibility Woobin doesn't have sitting on his shoulders just because he has older brothers. Even Junpyo, who had an older sister, doesn't have the privilege Woo Bin has of having older brothers. The first boy of the family was always the one who took over the family business; it was tradition. In Junpyo's case, being a girl didn't even matter as much as her lack of interest in taking over the company. Being an only child, Jihoo had no option.

" Did they go to this school too?" Jandi, who hesitated if she should ask, took the chance, and she was happy that Jihoo, reading the email sent to him, hadn't even looked away from his screen as he responded.

" Not just went to this school, they kind of started the F4 thing. I think one of them only attended for a few years." Unbeknown to him, Jihoo had revealed information that Jandi wasn't aware of. The record they have of the Woobins family. The oldest brother, who went to this school and was a member of the F4 and was now the acting manager of their construction company; was all she knew about. Just with that one sentence, Jihoo had confirmed there was another brother.

" Why only a few years?" she asked.

" I don't know. He was sent to study abroad, I think"

" A bunch of things happened during their high school years. It was crazy." Jihoo, preoccupied with the email from the director, was missing all the hints he could see on her face that he could have used to be suspicious of why she was asking about Woobin's brothers suddenly. Unbeknown to him, he was making her proud for the three years she stayed hidden in this school that has finally gotten her some significant clues. She might have finally found the people she had been looking for or at least the person who could lead her to that. Not only does Woobin have an older brother they weren't aware of.

He was a student at this school.

He was a member of the F4.

He was here when the incidents happened and was sent abroad after.

And somehow all of his information was bruised and erased from any record.

After over 40 months at this school, she had found a clue worth wasting all their time and resources on. The confusing joy she was experiencing, Jihoo wasn't aware of as his eyes were glued to his screen. Having confirmed the man actually existed, she changed her focus to what became her curiosity.

" What happened that year?" she asked as though she wasn't aware of every tiny detail of the events that had changed her life. Right after she asked it, she recognized her curiosity wasn't much about the event but how much of it Jihoo knew. She was now more interested in hearing his perspective on the one thing defining her existence.

" Ugh. You don't want to know." his dismissive tone, Jandi was taking note of every detail of what he was saying.

" They had to shut the school that year. It was a mess.." the nonchalant look on his face as he spoke was making her even more curious. The mess he was talking about, she would pay good money to hear how much of it he knows or remembers.

" It must have been very serious?" She tried to sound as calm as possible while waiting to hear the answer that could trigger a reaction out of her body.

" It was crazy?"

" What happened?" she asked again.

" We were in elementary school, so I don't remember much and don't want to remember too."

" I was away too that year. Remember I told you I studied in Japan for a year?" Jihoo was too focused on his work to search his memory to discuss what he knew, which wasn't much. He was 10 or 11 years old when all of it happened.

" That was why I was sent away to study there." The way she looked at him, even Jandi wasn't aware of what her body was experiencing as she was forced to realize how the events that changed her life into a living hell were some erased memories, some didn't even want to waste a second thinking about. The opposite life they lived, she was given the first clue that their realities were worlds apart. The private plane he was put in and sent to a mansion and an international school he would attend for the year; Jandi remembers the story he had told about how much he hated studying there. Which he started telling because she asked him why he had learned Japanese.

" If you think Woobin is a bully, haha." Jihoo stopped himself as he deemed it unimportant and too cruel for her to know, but the girl beside him was more aware than he was. The nightmare she had forced herself to never to think about, what he was trying to hide from her was something she was aware of more than anybody. She lived every waking minute of her day knowing one day she would have to relive it, and that day would be when the monster she kept caged would burn this place to the ground.

" Did you hang out with them?" she asked while she ordered her body to calm down and focus on getting as much information out of him as possible. Her phone recording their conversation; she was collecting info the team could use to find the man they would need to put in the middle of the puzzle they had been trying to solve. His location being her priority for now, her focus shifted to where she could find him. Jihoo, who didn't seem like he was even remotely interested in talking about what happened; she guessed he probably didn't know much, considering how he was not here for most of the year. What she could get out of him was where to find this man. Every time she met him, she quickly remembered how it was at events related to school or the F4 members. But the F4 member she saw him with at all three incidents wasn't the one sitting in front of her.

" Not much. Yijeong and Junpyo party with them a lot.." Jihoo had said the name she knew she couldn't escape. She had thought that wasn't enough to get her to do something she had claimed she would never do, but Jihoo had added, giving her another reason when he heard her response.

" Birds of a feather." Her small smirk got a reaction as his typing hands stopped.

" or because Yijeong loves parties and doesn't care with whom. Jun Pyo'' Jihoo didn't finish his sentence. He knew what he was about to say wasn't something for him to share. He has already shared enough damaging information about his best friend. There was no reason to add more.

" I am not saying this because he is my friend, but he is nothing like them," Jihoo had finally looked up from his computer. His eyes that landed on her had made sure Jandi's smirk was removed when she saw the serious look on his face.

" Not like the people that bullied people enough to have the school shut down?" crossing her arms, she asked. His friends he always stood up for, that was one thing she didn't like about Jihoo. Rather than question why he was so defensive when it came to his best friend, she let her anger cloud her judgment.

" haha" Jihoo smiled as he returned his eyes back to the computer.

" They are the reason he is this fucked up," his friend he will defend no matter what; Jihoo could sense how quickly the topic had triggered his anger to the point of saying something he shouldn't have. This was the second time he had shared something about Junpyo that he had no right to share.

" You don't know him." Jihoo pulling his tie lower took a deep breath. He was trying hard not to blame himself for saying things he shouldn't have. Just like him, his words repeated again and again as Jandi was left more confused about what he was talking about, and she decided to end the conversation there. Her own puzzle she was wrapped up in, her mind wasn't even able to understand what he was trying to say but she knew the person she had yelled at to leave her alone was her next target to interrogate.

"I'll deliver these" was all she said as she left the room. The documents in her hands were placed on her desk before she left the office. She needed to make a call, and Bom's number was pressed quickly as she started walking to the elevator. Everything Jihoo said, she repeated word for word. The plan Bom needs to come up with, Jandi was told to either get a name or a location, which she already knew would be her task. The fact that they hadn't found anything about this brother until now was finally settling as Bom ordered her to do whatever to get the info. It was terrifying and revealed the immense power the Woobin family had to bury everything to the point there was not even a single record of the so-called son. This might be it.

Any and every information about him she needed to collect, Jandi. knew the next person she needed to talk to was the one person she claimed she never wanted to see. The only thing she lives for, her ego could take several back seats if it is to get any information about the man Jihoo had claimed parties with Junpyo and Yijeong. The latter she didn't know well; Junpyo was the obvious choice. Not only because he was very observant and knew a lot but because of what Jihoo said. If what Jihoo said was true that what happened caused something for Junpyo, he would remember and know great details about it. That was when she recalled how he had asked her not to get entangled with Woobin's brother. He had even said, "Please", and she was quickly reminded of the worried look in his eyes as he pleaded. He knows something, she concluded. That was when she even questioned why he looked angry when he asked her if the man had done anything to her. She was 100% sure Junpyo knew something, and she needed to know what he knew. Her anger and rage she always directed at him, for now, they were forgotten as she decided to search for him.

Her marching legs, she headed to the parking lot, but there was no sign of the car she knew very well. The F4 lounge, the library, his classroom, she had checked the places she could guess he could be in. That was when she finally realized he wasn't in school. When Tuesday rolled in, her main reason for coming to school was to find him, but it was the same story as yesterday. He was nowhere to be found. The F4 lounge she had sneaked into to check, she had run into Woobin and Yijeong in the hallway.

" What's up, freak?" Woobin's smirk was ignored as she focused her eyes on Yijeong, who she was wondering if she should ask. She decided not to. Somehow it felt a tiny bit embarrassing to ask about where he was considering she had been shouting at him to get away from her. He had finally given her what she wanted, and the first thing she did right after was look for him. While she stood contemplating where to find them man she had to told to leave her alone, the hint of embarrassment kicked in.

" She's not a freak. Just odd," Yijeong corrected as he gave her a big smile.

" Jihoo is not here," he added. Jihoo she was always around, he had guessed she was looking for him.

" Are you not going to welcome me? '' As she started walking away, Woobin had asked while crossing his arms. Her eyes that turned his way were a sight to behold as Yijong had even leaned back, taken aback by the try-me look on her face. The guts this girl had, Yijeong was given another opportunity to admire as her scary eyes slowly lowered to Woobin's hand in the cast and his broken leg that still needed a crutch. Her eyes both boys followed to his serious wounds, Yijeong couldn't help but smile at how the message she was sending was received without her even saying anything. The two stunned boys staring at her, Jandi turned her face and continued her walk away. With her quick steps, both were left just staring.

" What was that?" Woobin had asked once she disappeared into the right turn she took.

" Leave her alone. She is not one to mess with" Yijeong had given sound advice his friend hadn't taken to heart.

" She slapped Junpyo so," Yijeong thought that was the only warning he had to give his friend about how daring she was.

"That's because she could tell he's soft. Just like how she knew to attach to the other softy"

" I dare you to say that to Junpyo's face" Yijeong held the door open for his wounded friend.

" You think I won't" The two arguing she left behind, she was headed to the only person who would know where Junpyo was hiding. She knew to use Jihoo to find out why his best friend wasn't there, but he had no answer. His statement was the same as always. Junpyo was allowed to show up whenever he wanted.

Her day she spent in front of her computer, digging into every file they had on Woobin's family, she was trying to come up with any other way to get information. If Junpyo doesn't show up or doesn't even want to talk to her, she needs to find plans B and C. While she was wasting days not getting any more new information, the two people sent to stake out Woobin's family house were producing many pictures of everybody that went in and out of that house. Unfortunately, there was not a single picture of anybody that looked like the image they were given, and Jandi couldn't identify the man from any of the pictures they sent either.

By the time Thursday rolled in, she had found plan B and busied her mind with the gallery charity event Jihoo was attending Friday night. She needed to get invited to not only that event but every event Jihoo goes to so she could hunt that man down. That was plan B; to attend all the parties Jihoo had claimed was where he saw him. Her morning class wasted on coming up with ways to lead Jihoo into asking her to attend the event on Friday; Jandi had no other thought as she placed the earphones in her ear and walked out of the classroom. Busily thinking about how to start the conversation, she pressed play on the playlist that was saved as a favorite. The song started slowly, she increased the volume to drown out the chitter chatter of all her peers in the hallway.

The black rose disappears momentarily, the black rose

It keeps scratching my heart painfully

The darkness covers your eyes again

It blooms in my dream in my dream (Black rose)

Tamin - Black rose.

The lyrics of the song drumming at her ears seemed intentional as her eyes landed on the three people coming her way from the other side. As the students in front of them parted to let them pass, her eyes were instantly placed on the one in the middle whom she had been looking for. He was finally here. The black he was covered in from head to toe, even his face was hidden away as he looked like a dark mythical figure. He really was here. The black hoodie and jeans weren't enough; he wore a long black overcoat. The darkness that was always around him, today was different as Jandi's legs had slowed their step while her eyes took in the sight. There was something even more overpowering about his tall body whenever he wore those long overcoats that moved with every step he took. All the black he was covered with had its effect, as it was the color that looked the best for the gloomy mood he was always in. The expensive fabric that covers his body, there was a reason his style was best described as effortlessly cool. Her eyes, left to their curiosity, had done another scan, starting from his black loafers up until they got back to his hidden face. The black fabric of the hoodie on top of his hair swinging left and right with every step; she zoomed on his eyes, hidden behind the dark glasses he had on.

The darkness covers your eyes again

It blooms in my dream in my dream (Black rose)

The song goes on as she made out the small smirk on his face, thanks to whatever Yijeong had said. Instantly she was transported back to the weekend and the annoying smiles he kept sending her way although there was nothing funny about their last interaction. With the permission her mind was given to think back about what happened on Saturday, it quickly reminded her of the list of things she had shouted at him with. The way he walked and how he dressed she had claimed to hate; her eyes had their own goal as they decided to do another scan of the boy, who was getting closer with every step. Her close observation, she was finally able to note how his tall stature was thanks to his long legs. His hands in his coat pocket, her eyes shifted to the small words written across his hoodie. They were too small for her to read from here, and her mind had another goal as she was reminded of her finger that had dared to touch his chest. Her finger that had pressed hard against his chest now was when she recalled how firm the muscle she pressed on was. His broad shoulders, the muscles he hides inside all this black, were given a second and only a second for her wandering mind to think about. Her eyes slowly raised; they landed on some of his hair that had escaped the hoodie. His luscious hair, how soft his hair was to her touch, she was reminded of it now. All wrapped up in her anger when it happened, she didn't waste any time questioning his reaction to when she had dared to touch his hair. Now was when her mind gave her the crystal clear mental picture it had taken of his reaction to her touch. It was easy to categorize it as a weird discomfort for being touched by her. Which she had convinced herself was a thing. It made it easier to think of it that way. Just like how she concludes her reaction to him was all because she hated him, it was easier that way.

The universe that works in mysterious ways, it was as though it knew what she was thinking about him as his head was slowly raised; his eyes directed straight ahead in her direction. Whether he was looking at her or not, Jandi didn't like how she couldn't tell. The blank look on his face, there were some students in between them so he could be looking at them, she guessed. If the way he looked at her was annoying, it was even more annoying when she couldn't tell if he was or was not looking at her. It was more frustrating when she couldn't tell if his dark eyes were on her. His attention he usually never lifted from her once he saw her, she got her answer that he wasn't looking at her as she watched his face turn away from her direction to Yijeong next to him. The assumptions she had made to get to that conclusion, if she had wasted a second to think about it, she might have discovered something important. Why he never lifted his attention from her when he saw her, and how she had come used to it were interesting questions to ask.

The fact that she was a bit far away was used as an excuse, but seconds later, she would get clear proof. Not even a single glance was given to the other two as the three boys became close enough for her to read the words on his hoodie. Her eyes fixated on the one in the middle; she had caught the right moment when his face was lifted and turned in her direction again. The wall she always walked along, she was sure his eyes hidden behind the glasses were looking at her now. Even though she couldn't see them, she was 100 % sure they had finally seen her. Her only proof was how she could feel his gaze. Past the black lenses covering his eyes, the eerie feeling his eyes leave whenever they stared at her for more than a second was her evidence. The look on his face, she was watching it react to her presence in real-time, but it only lasted seconds. Considering how much she claimed to hate them, he was relieving her of something she hated so much as his eyes were lifted from her and turned to the steps he was taking. His eyes didn't return to her even as they walked past each other. Her eyes that never left him; it was weird why she felt odd about his eyes not staring at her as they used to. A few steps later, she turned to look at the three boys walking away, but her focus was on the one who had finally listened to her request. She knew she shouldn't feel anything but happy and glad that she had finally gotten what she wanted and was being ignored.

The resolution she had made on Monday, having the guts to talk to him, was now shaken just from the mere sight of him. More than the confidence to do so, it was her ego that was challenged. Why it was so difficult to let go of her ego when she was in front of him was alarming. The ridiculous and shameful things she does to achieve her goal, even taking back her words, seem like a mountain when he is the person she has to deal with. The boy she had let walk away, she convinced herself she would question him when he was alone. The confidence in her ability to do anything to achieve her goal would be tested as she decided to use lunchtime as the best time to look for him. The library he hides in is her best guess, but before she even walked out of the class after the bell rang, Jihoo standing by the door waiting for her. Unlike her, Jihoo had other plans for their lunch as he had waited by her class right when the bell rang.

" Why are you here?" Jandi asked, passing her lunch bag to her left hand.

" You don't need this." Her lunch bag was snatched from her hand, and Jihoo returned it to her desk.

" Come on" was the only thing he said. Accompanied by his smile that always weaks her logical mind that would never accept following him without knowing where they were going. She decided to save the question for wherever they were headed, and she just decided to follow. It probably was work-related stuff, it was most of the time.

" Were you late again?" Jihoo asked. His office she didn't come to in the morning; he knew there was only one reason for it. She never misses to start the day with him unless she is late.

" The train was delayed."

" You know I can pick you up, so you can always be on time." His smiling eyes at her; only the students walking past them were questioning what was going on with their student president, who had his warm eyes glued to the girl he was walking with. Not even his eyes; some were even questioning how close the bodies of the two were as they were walking. His uniform suit jacket brushed against her uniform cardio, only the students watching the two were aware and bothered by how close the two seemed. The students who had started being suspicious of the two were now collecting evidence as some had taken a picture of the two staring at each other. What would become the biggest rumor of the school year, some were ahead of the curve as they made the assumption something was going on between the two. The rest, who had high expectations for their president, would never accept the likes of her being even a friend to him, let alone more. F4 and their minions, she had thought they were the only ones she had to look out for but was now collecting even more haters as she had dared get remotely close to the perfect prince of the school who had won almost every girl's vote.

" You want to drive 45 minutes to my neighborhood and then drive over an hour back?" Jandi, crossing her arms, asked. The logistics of the offer were what she was worried about, not that Jihoo was offered to pick her up every day.

" How do you know how long it takes from my house to yours?"

" Don't you live around here?" She knew how to lie. Even though she hadn't even seen the inside of his house, she knew the address.

" No, but close enough." Jihoo held the elevator door open for her. His manners she was used to, Jandi hadn't even thought about it as she walked in. As they started walking down the hallway, Jandi had an excellent idea. Her suspicion was confirmed with every step; she contemplated what to do but couldn't object because she wasn't sure what was waiting for her. The F4 lounge she has been in quite a few times; she wasn't sure if they were there to pick things up as he usually does or something else. The other three she had seen in the morning, she wasn't sure how she would feel about seeing them. Before she got to a conclusion, they walked in the door. Her eyes from the big room landed on the dining area in the left corner. The three sitting around the grand lunch, she found her answer to why Jihoo brought her here. The massive lunch in the middle, she ignored as her eyes focused on the two people who had turned to the door they walked into. With the confused look in Woobin's eyes, while Yijong looked excited, Jandi wasn't given a chance to see the reaction of Jun Pyo, who was seated with his back facing the door. Busy with his food, he hadn't even turned to check what his friends were looking at.

"Hey," Yijeong, full of smiles, was the first one to welcome her as they headed to the dining area. Her questioning eyes on him, Jihoo knew he had to at least give her some explanation as to why she was there.

" I don't want them to bother you, so I have to do this," Jihoo whispered, leaning closer to her. Most would guess the main person he talked about was Woobin, but Jandi knew Jihoo was trying to set boundaries for all his friends.

" They are my friends; I want you guys to have some common ground," he added with a convincing smile aimed at her. With a smile she couldn't say no to, she continued following his steps to the table without saying anything.

" What is this?" Wobin, placing his drink down, asked.

" I am introducing you to her. This is Jandi if you don't know her name by now." Jihoo, with all smiles, gathered everyone's attention as they got to the table.

"Are we getting an official introduction?" Yijeong was the only one with a welcoming smile on his face. Woobin, still not sure what was going on, had kept his eyes on Jihoo who pulled the chair for her. Knowing to trust Yijeong, Jihoo had chosen the seat her next to Yijeong. He was going to sit next to her and block her from Woobin. Jandi, not even wasting a second, had taken the seat he had pulled for her. Yijeong, surprised by how seamlessly the two operated, turned his eyes from Jihoo pushing the plate and glass her way before he even sat, and turned to Junpyo next to him. His friend who looked uninterested in what was going on, Yijeong was sure Junpyo had already heard about whatever was going to become official.

"This is Yijeong. He is"

" Oh, we know each other," Yijeong interrupted, turning his focus from Junpyo, busy with his food, back to Jandi next to him. His left hand was sent to the water, and he started pouring some into her glass. Considering his reputation she wasn't surprised by how he was being nice to her. He had done so every time she had interacted with him. Which had made her question why Yijeong would ever be part of F4. Just like Jihoo, he was getting the "nice" title with every interaction they had.

" This is Woobin, and his name is all you need to know" . His introduction was only a sentence, even Woobin laughed at that. But it was better than Jupyo who didn't even get his name called.

" You know who that is" Jihoo, sitting down, had missed Jandi's eyes that were sent to Junpyo in front of her he pointed at. His eyes that hadn't looked up once, Junpyo didn't seem interested.

" What the hell is happening?" Woobin finally asked since nobody was explaining anything.

" She is his girlfriend. You have missed so much," Yijeong's words, the reaction of both Jihoo and Jandi was cute as they sent their eyes his way and then to each other.

" See" Yijeong pointed at the two looking at each other.

" She is." Jihoo didn't finish his sentence. Jandi's eyes that were on him were the reason his words were silenced. He has to be careful about what he says.

"Are you serious?"

" You went from Seohyun to her?" Woobin, crossing his arms, asked as he turned his eyes to Jandi. The way he had scanned her up and down, she watched while hiding her smile at the visible bruises still on him she had left. His disdain for her was making her happy. Her happiness increased as she was reminded of the night she changed his life. Nothing this jerk could say could get her to be angry, he was a childish punk she could teach another lesson if need be. The silence she uses to save herself from the trouble of saying anything that could get her into trouble, she was considering if she should attack his fragile ego.

" You must be on drugs or have lost your mind." As he went on, that was when Jandi realized the best way to annoy Woobin was to be there and play the role Yijeong had assigned her. Being next to Jihoo proved to be the best weapon she could use against not just Junpyo but Woobin. Yet again, another reason to like him. The best way to ruin the F4 was to make the boys fight against each other, Jandi hadn't learned that yet but was being given tiny clues.

" I have, so don't even try bothering her." Jihoo, passing the appetizer plate her way, made his first demand. Even Yijeong was silenced by this one. Jihoo, who had never introduced them to any girl, was not only doing that but was setting clear boundaries around the girl who had done the impossible and taken his heart away in front of the woman who had had it for years. .

" Or what?"

" She will slap you " Yijeong was the one to answer Woobin's question before he repeated the stroy of how she had slapped Jun Pyo.

" I am not Junpyo." Woobin, turning to Junpyo next to him, commented. All thought that would get Junpyo's attention. With his knife cutting the salmon he was eating, Junpyo didn't seem interested, let alone react to what was happening.

" Somebody beat you to the point a nurse had to wipe you down for weeks. Focus on that." Jihoo in his proactive mood attacked back.

" haha," Yijeong quickly silenced his laugh. Woobin, who had always claimed he was untouchable thanks to his family, the incident was hilarious for anybody who knew how much he used to brag about being untouchable. The fact that the person who did it was sitting there with them and was a girl, the day that news came to light would be when Yijoeng would fall for the girl whom he was expected to be angry at for beating his friend.

" don't worry I don't hit girls" Woobin who tried to save himself was triggered even more by the smirk that escaped her lips.

" Really? " her voice surprised all.

" You seem like the type to love beating women," her first sentence; even Jihoo had turned her way as he noticed her cutting eyes scanning Woobin up and down. Her confidence Yijeong claims was his favorite thing about her; Jihoo was also learning how her daring attitude was one of her most attractive traits. With the utter shock on Woobin's face, even Junpyo had finally looked up as he sent his eyes to Woobin next to him. The only one to know that it was her that had landed Woo Bin in the hospital bed, he was trying to see the result of Woobin finally being challenged by the girl he had slapped. His eyes that should have stayed down, he knew they would take the opportunity to glance at what they had been begging him for. Against their wish, his eyes were sent back to his plate after only a glance at the girl looking and daring Woo Bin to respond to her.

" you?"

"This girl" he couldn't even form a sentence as Woo Bin turned his eyes to Jihoo who was also daring him to say anything about her.

" Isn't she amazing?" Yijeong was honest about what he thought of Jandi.

" I told you she is not one to mess with," he added, giving her early clues that he is going to be the one to support her no matter what. Not only supported her, but he was the first member of the Jandi fan club. All the girls that bow at their feet; it was a nice change, even for Yijeong, to be around somebody so clearly defiant to them. The fact that she was a scholarship student who had everything to lose if they just snapped their fingers to attack her was the cherry on the top of why he was staring to fangirl.

" I can see why you like her. Who wouldn't like such a daring girl"

"She is also cute when she dresses up" Yijeong was fully on board with the relationship. He could even see the similarities between this girl and the last girl that had Jihoo's heart.

" Is this some kind of joke?"Woobin, turning to Jihoo, asked again.

" nobody is laughing"

" Leave her alone, '' Jihoo warned again. Jandi's daring eyes, she wasn't even hiding them as she kept them on Woobin. The glass she brought to her lips, she sipped as she waited for his reaction. Her smile hidden behind was a result of how she felt about Jihoo's protectiveness. If she had to be honest, she didn't need his words as much as his actions to know he cared about her. Being protective of her was the best thing he could do to show it and even though she would never admit it, she was a bit happy that he was even standing up for her against his friends. In her book, there was nothing more attractive than being protective. At least for now.

"And you're allowing this." Woobin turned all attention to Junpyo who was doing his best to be left alone.

" Why does he get a say in who I date?" Jihoo's question: the only person who was shocked was Jandi. Her eyes turned to Jihoo, even Junpyo had glanced up to catch the two staring at each other. This is it. He doesn't need any other proof.

" I told you they were dating." The only clue he needed, Yijeong had almost jumped up from his chair as he got his confirmation thanks to Jihoo's slip.

" I swear to God I knew it weeks ago. They spend so much time together" Yijeong went on while Jihoo was busy trying to look at Jandi who had turned her attention to her food. All his focus was on trying to figure out if she was upset or mad or whatever she was feeling about what had happened, and he was ignoring Yijeong's words.

"I've been telling him but he didn't believe me," Yijeong pointed at Junpyo, and Jandi's eyes slowly lifted to the man sitting in front of her. He really didn't seem bothered or interested in what was being discussed. That much was clear as she kept glancing at him throughout the nonsense Yijeong went on talking about all the moments he used as clues to figure out the two were dating.

" Are you all coming to the cruise ship?" Jihoo, who needed to change the subject ASAP, directed the question to something that should excite his friend.

" Did you get us first-class rooms?" Yijeong asked and that was it. How all had gone on with their lunch and conversation as though the new person sitting there was a new phenomenon that had never happened except for when Soehyun nonna would visit them. How much they loved and respected Jihoo. Jandi was getting to see it as all had accepted her presence despite not wanting her there. All for his sake.

" He might not be there." Yijeong forced all eyes on Jun Pyo. Jandi, covering her lips with the napkin, had also sent her eyes to him. Her eyes following his moving hand, were on his right hand that brought the cut salmon to his lips.

" Why not?"

" Family stuff," Junpyo finally spoke. His raspy voice she had claimed to hate, was lower and rougher today as he followed it with a small cough.

" What family stuff?" Jihoo, who knew everything about Junpyo, asked. But his focus immediately shifted to the second cough he heard and Junpyo, who covered his face with his hoodie and turned right to cough.

" Were you guys out yesterday too?" Jihoo asked Yijeong. Jihoo guessed that all the drinking and messed up sleep schedules had been the main reasons why Junpyo couldn't seem to get rid of the cold that kept coming up here and there.

" was sleeping all day."

"We got home after sunrise on Saturday" Woobin was fully proud of the crazy Saturday night they had. None of them were questioning Jandi's eyes that weren't lifted from Junpyo. The napkin he cleaned his lips with, her eyes scanned his face right when his hair was brushed away for a few seconds. The first chance she was given to see his face, she took a quick assessment. He looks sick. Seconds later, his hair was back, cuddling his face.

" You need to invite those girls to ship " Woobin suggested.

" Is she going to be there? Woobin's sarcastic question was aimed at Jandi.

" She is his girlfriend so Yes" Yijeong was the one to respond.

" Don't seem like she has a single fun bone in her body so she might ruin it for all" Woobin, who was looking for any excuse to say things to her was using the opportunity.

" We will find somebody more fun for you for the event"

"Don't listen to him" Yijeong was the one who came to his defense.

" Jihoo never messes with girls and is not a party person" Yijeong smiling at her was stating what they all knew to be obvious. She had seen them at different parties to remember how Jihoo was uncomfortable being around the girls his friends were surrounded with.

"He is also loyal by default" he added before turning the focus to Junpyo.

" Did the girl leave your place, by the way?"

" Oh, you took her home?" Woobin followed Yijeong's question.

" He called me Yesterday saying he can't get her to leave." Yijeong and Woobin were providing the context for Jandi and Jihoo, who weren't sure what was being talked about. The girl she had seen lying on top of him at the pool party, Jandi knew who they were talking about. It was the same girl she saw him make out with in the car at Seohyun's farewell party. The girl he had taken home that night too. This makes it two nights she had spent in his apartment.

"She's obsessed with him already" Yijeong's hand landed on Junpyo's shoulder. Jandi had ignored all the smiles of the men around her as she kept her eyes on Jun Pyo, whose eyes had finally looked up and looked her way. His eyes not hidden behind the black glasses, she focused on the dark iris of his daunting eyes. His hair she wanted to brush away so she could see his full face, she saved her annoyance for the way he was looking at her. Why does he look bothered? His honest eyes she could easily read, she dismissed the assumption she made about the look on his face. There is no reason for him to be bothered about her knowing what he does with the girls who were allowed to do whatever to him. She didn't need Yijeong and Woo bin's words, she had seen it with her own eyes.

"She asked me to set you up by the way" Yijeong was leading the conversation that was finally making Jihoo smile.

" Does she know he has a girlfriend?" Jihoo asked as he crossed his arms and sat back.

" I don't think she cares" Woobin's response, they all knew that was the only answer to Jihoo's question.

" He is already in an open relationship, maybe they can be in a poly one" Woobin added as all watched Junpyo drinking the cold water he was told to avoid.

" Seohyun is gone so time to live up to your full potential" the girl that forced him to stay in line, even Jandi was aware of how Junpyo did some things just to please her.

"What?' Junpyo asked as Jandi was forced to be aware of the change in his voice.

" He is already in one. He doesn't have it in him to limit himself to one" Yijeong added more headache to Junpyo.

" They won't let him even if he decided to"

" What do you do to them?" Woobin's question forced a smile on all three of his friends while Junpyo slowly turned his eyes to his food.

" I swear to God he does something to them" Yijeong's excitement at what he was saying was slowly fading as he turned his eyes to Jandi and caught the way she was looking at Jun Pyo. His intuition was top-notch, he trusted it as he switched his focus to what she was staring at. Her questioning eyes weren't even blinking as they stayed on Jun Pyo picking his water glass up. The look in her eyes, right when it changed, Yijeong turned to find why. The answer was Junpyo's eyes that looked her way. While Jihoo and Woobin were focusing their smiling eyes on their lunch, Yijeong was the only one watching the two sets of eyes silently having their conversation.

Their intertwined eyes weren't enough, the moment the smirk escaped her lips Yijeong's intuition was let into the tense space their bodies existed in. With the tight knot around them, Yijeong wasn't even sure what he was supposed to make out of the fiery tension between the two. Their eyes kept to each other, his shocked, baffled, and confused mind kept staring at both. The second he felt the tension disappear into thin air, he turned to what had done it. His napkin placed down, Junpyo didn't waste a second as he stood up and forced all attention on him.

"excuse me" his low whisper, all eyes stayed on him as he picked up his phone and started walking away from the table. His eyes from Junpyo walking away, Yijeong turned to Jandi. The way she was scanning him up and down, Yijeong sat back to get a better view of the girl whose sole attention was on Junpyo who hadn't said much during the weird lunch they just had.

" He's sick" Yijeong gave the simplest explanation as he waited for her eyes to come to him and they had done just that. The question in his eyes, Yijeong wasn't shy away from asking her why her attention was on the one walking away and not on the one next to her. The second she recognized she was being watched she had turned her eyes down to her plate. Yijeong's observant eyes stayed on her, making sure she was aware of how suspicious he was of her. His close observation, he had saved his comment for when they finished lunch.

" You have slapped him already so let it go" His big smiles were followed by a wink as Yijeong leaned over to Jandi standing from her chair. The only reason he could find for why she would even glance at Jun Pyo, Yijeong gave her what seemed like solid advice. Those were the words she remembered from the awkward lunch. Her mind busy processing what happened wasn't given much time as her focus was shifted to what she needed to do. The boy she needed to find, right when they walked out of the lounge, she had used a fake excuse to leave Jihoo behind. The library was her best guess, but she was proven wrong as he was nowhere in the library. The whole lunch break she wasted looking for him, she was sure he was on campus but couldn't locate him. The end of the day being her next bet, she had rushed out of her class to make sure she got him before he drove his car from the parking lot to the driveway they always stood by.

Her backpack Jumping up and down with the movement of her jog; it took her only two minutes to get from her class to the VIP parking lot behind their building where she saw his car parked. They usually take their car from the parking lot and park it by the driveby in front of their building as they chat. Her watch she glanced at, her eyes had turned left when she saw a shadow of black coming from the other direction. There he was. Dressed in her favorite color and walking her way. Her slow steps towards his car, she kept her eyes on his quick steps. She had finally gotten him by himself. Why he always seems in a rush to get out of this place? Maybe it wasn't just her who hated this school. His face still looking down, she was made aware of how he usually walks with his head down when he is alone. How he doesn't make eye contact and avoids all the students looking at him when he is by himself, was left as a useless question to be curious about. His right hand she saw pulled out of his pocket had brought the weird cigarette she followed to his lips. There was that habit of his she hated again. Only a few steps away from his car, she chose to stand and wait. Her mind focused on just watching him, it should have been busy with what she was going to say but it wasn't. For all the thoughts she wasted on convincing herself how easy talking to him should be, she hadn't even prepared how to start the conversation. If he had decided to leave her alone and ignore her, just like she shouted at him to do, she knew he most likely wouldn't even give her the time of day to ask a single question.

His eyes on the floor, it didn't seem like he was even aware of the girl steps away from his car as he breathed out the white smoke.

" Hey" her voice, if she had to be honest with herself, she was startled by how her voice was able to get such a reaction out of him. His legs that stopped walking, she even caught how his left hand raised to bring the cigarette to his lips was frozen mid-air. His head slowly lifted, and his eyes now covered with the black glasses, were brought to her. The look on his face, she was trying to read as she waited for any other reaction. His eyes hidden away, it was so obvious to her how much she didn't like not seeing them. Neither said anything as the seconds kept adding up. Right at 5 seconds, Junpyo had turned his head down and started his steps again.

" I need to talk to you" The confidence in her voice was used to mask the ego she had to swallow and the shame she felt to be doing this. Her hand sent to her pocket, was squeezed to remind her that nothing else mattered more than accomplishing her goal. If she had to embarrass herself, there was nothing she wouldn't do and it was only a tiny price to pay for what she could get out of him. His head slowly raised, her eyes followed his left hand as it brought the cigarette to his lips. The wind brushed his hair away, it had only assisted her with noticing his ghostly white face and the way his lips pulled in the nicotine he breathed in. What was he thinking? She hated how she couldn't tell.

" I thought you hated my voice" his raspy voice she had claimed to hate finally reached her ears. His voice sounded way rougher than even lunchtime. Why that was her first thought, she shook it off. The assumption she had made that he might not remember all that she had said since he was drinking like crazy was just proven to be wrong. He remembers everything. The embarrassment at doing this after asking him to leave her alone, she decided to just focus on what she needed.

" Why did you ask me to not get tangled with him?" she asked as her eyes followed the steps he continued to take to his car she was three steps away from. Focused on the question, she hadn't recognized how the tenseness in her fingers getting ready to fight was slowly being lifted. It was odd but even the embarrassment and ego that she was conflicted about had taken a back seat the moment she heard his voice again.

" Why were you following him?" he clicked his car key that unlocked his car. The fact that Junpyo was not like Jihoo and wouldn't just answer her question. She knew he would need something from her, she should have expected that.

" I thought I recognized him from somewhere," she answered. Junpyo opened the driver's side door and just stood there for a second. His eyes she couldn't see his, she was bothered by how she couldn't tell what he was thinking all thanks to his hidden eyes. He was trying to guess if she was telling the truth and he was sure she could easily lie about this.

" So you know him?"

" Why did you ask me to not get tangled with him?" she had to remind him he had to answer her question before he asked another one. The boy she keeps daring, by now she should have known Junpyo wasn't one to filter what he wanted to say. The one in front of her who hadn't seen her in days and sat through lunch listening to her being claimed as his best friend's girl, this Junpyo had nothing to lose by filtering himself.

" Maybe I don't want you to get entangled with any man" his soft voice and the calm way he had said it, would anybody blame her for losing all her focus? The reason why she was even doing this had evaporated out of all consciousness as she was forced to stand frozen in time. What? Her brain couldn't even process what he just said. Her eyes following the smoke that celard away from his face, stayed on him. " What does that mean?" the question she wanted to ask, she needed some seconds to get her focus back onto the main reason she was talking to him, to begin with.

" Do you know him?"

" I don't know him," she answered quickly. This one he could tell was an honest answer.

" Then let's leave it at that" The cigarette he threw away, he slowly got into the driver's seat. The car he started, she needed those seconds to calculate what she was planning on doing. Right when the car started moving, she decided to take it there and she asked the question that would cause a reaction.

"Why do you hang out with them if they caused you to be this fucked up?" Deciding to use whatever from having him drive away, she had used the information Jihoo was embarrassed to share with her. The car that stopped its slow movement; she focused on the driver. She knew to expect a reaction, and she had gotten a clear one as zoomed in on his face she could see thanks to the window on the passenger side that was lowered.

"Ji Hoo" she watched as both his hands from the steering wheel were sent to the hair he brushed away from his face. She didn't have to say who; he knew exactly who would share something like this with her. It was the boy she had in her hands.

" Why did you want me to stay away from him?" she asked as she zoomed in on his face. She needs the conversation to stay on topic.

" You two need to find something else to talk about." His clear face turned her way. He is agitated, and she decides to use it against him.

" I am not allowed to even talk about you now?" she crossed her arms.

" I wonder why you talk so much about me, considering you hate me so much?" He knew how to silence her.

" Why do you want me to stay away from him?" she asked, swallowing the discomfort this question had brought.

" I am not allowed to talk to Jihoo's girlfriends in private," Junpyo said, taking his glass off and throwing it onto the passenger seat. Her title that was officially placed at lunch; Junpyo wasn't lying about what he said.

" he didn't tell you about that one," he added with a smile. The story Seohyun had told her, Jandi made sure to remember to ask Jihoo about what Junpyo had claimed. The car that started moving again; he was forced to press on the break when he heard her offer.

" I will answer your questions." She knew the only way to get him to talk was to give him something he wanted and to negotiate with him. With all his questions about her, she knew she could mix some truth and lie to get what she wanted. Maybe should finally get him off her back if she answered some of the curious questions he uses as the main reason to keep his attention on her.

" didn't you say all you wanted was to know me?" She had used his words against him as his eyes were sent to her. Her excuse she needed him to buy; she trusted the universe to work in her way as she saw the hesitation in his eyes.

The answer she was waiting for never came, but she had gotten a response as she heard a click and turned her eyes to the passenger door, which was unlocked. Her eyes returned to him; she watched as his eyes turned to the road. With her quick legs, she took the two steps between her and the car and got into the passenger seat. Before her backpack was placed next to her leg, he had stepped on the gas. The car speeding to the school's back gate; she put her seatbelt on as she glanced at the vehicle's speed. Her eyes, starting at his hands steering the wheel, followed his arm to the boy sitting with his back against his seat. His hoodie is finally off. The top half of his face hidden away; her careful scan had resulted in her noticing how the front of his hair wasn't that long and ended by his nose. Her eyes had no choice but to be pulled down to his lips as he pulled his lower lip in. Considering how much he smoked, the lips he was biting weren't as dark as one would guess. The instant she noticed a slight movement of his head, she turned her attention to the empty, straight road they were speeding on.

Her eyes that always react to any movement turned to his right hand she saw head to the screen. He pressed the play button. The soft music that started playing had slowly overtaken the car's silence. The school gate they drove past, the speed of the car had only increased as he joined the main road. The GPS that wasn't turned on, it was clear he was driving to someplace he knew. The comfort of the seat she was on, it was easy to be distracted by it and the soft, jazy song playing while they drove in silence. The car she always chose not to google how much it cost; she had been in both the passenger and driver's seat multiple times. Before the comfort of the leather seat was deemed as number one, she was reminded of the sweet smell of the car that was just as calming. A scent similar to the perfume his cloth were sprayed with; it would be embarrassing to admit she found it soothing. Her thoughts she needed to focus on why she wasn't saying anything; considering she was the one who wanted to talk, Jandi focused on that. How to start the conversation she was trying to find, Ten minutes had passed as they had even joined the highway. On the straight road they were driving on, only his right hand was steering. His left hand was sent to hold his head that was leaning to the window next to him.

" Are you going to ask or?" his focus was on the road; only his low voice reached her ears. Adjusting her seat, she sat straight, crossing her arms. In the minutes she had wasted in silence, she had come up with a great lie to use as her great excuse for why she was curious about Woobin's so-called brother.

" I have an event for work coming up, which he will attend." She created a fake scenario that would become true once Jihoo asked her to attend the event on Friday.

" I just want to know why I should avoid him?". Her eyes turned his way, she waited to see if he had bought into her excuse. His eyes on the road; she trusted her intuition, which was telling her he needed more.

" He will offer a lot of money. I want to know what I will get myself into if I accept."

" Why do you care all of a sudden?" he asked as she watched his left hand start playing with his hair. His eyes he was choosing to keep away from her, he also turned her attention to the road.

" You said to stay away from him, so I am curious why?" she turned her eyes to him.

" You sleep with people for money, so what's wrong one more" Jandi's eyes zoomed on him; it was clear she was startled by his sharp words.

"Why did you ask me to stay away from him?" she tried to force herself to focus on the only reasons she was there.

" It would be weird to sleep with him as your client while Jihoo is your boyfriend" The name he had mentioned was a trigger and her reaction to it had finally forced his attention to the girl he knew not to look at too much.

" I don't sleep with my clients" her honest confession, Junpyo's eye had placed her words as a second priority. Priority number one was taking note of her lovely face he hadn't seen in days.

" My job is to entertain them" Some of the clarification she had to provide, she knew her job was number one. Her odd job he has been asking her about since day one, she knew she would have to clarify that. The more explanation she was ready to provide she was silenced by the boy who didn't seem like he was listening to her. His focus was on something else. The way his eyes were looking at her, she tried ignoring as she turned hers to the road.

" Entertain how?"

" I answered your question, answer mine" She set rule number one.

" Why did you ask me to stay away?"

"You're Jihoo's girl, you need to stay away from any other men especially him" The fact that he kept mentioning Jihoo, she didn't like it but she had other things to worry about.

" Why especially him?"

"Because he wants you" Junpyo had given her access to his eyes that turned her way.

" he doesn't" the lie she told herself, Junpyo wasn't one to let her believe them.

" his hand under your skirt wasn't enough of a clue" the smirk on Junpyo's face, he hated how he had a visual for what he had said.

" Is that really why?" Her eyes were louder than the words she had whispered as they challenged him to be honest. The answer he didn't want to give her, Junpyo knew he couldn't lie and chode to remind her of her rule.

" not your turn"

" What were you doing there on Saturday?"

" I was with a client and had a job to do"

" Did that job have anything to do with that?" his eyes pointed at the new paper folded and placed on the dashboard in front of her. The paper she gently pulled to her, she opened to see the breaking news on the cover page. The news that had shaken the city was the body of the prosecutor found in his car that was totaled in the car accident that had left him dead. Her shock, she tried to hide it all as she kept her eyes on the news.

" he was there an hour before the accident that happened in the middle of nowhere with no other car or witnesses" Junpyo's words adding more to her shock, Jandi took more breaths to calm herself down. Her right hand by her side, she was quickly reminded of the knife on her leg which she could always use if she wanted to escape the car she was in. As she got control over the fear he had instigated her mind had only one goal, figuring out how on earth he had made the connections. That and if he had any proof of the claim he was making. Her eyes slowly shifted to him, he was waiting for her as the car had come to a halt thanks to the after-work traffic of the exit they were going to take. Her defense mode that was triggered, all her armor was on and even her eyes were ordered to not give him anything else as they started back at him.

" Your turn" he whispered as he lifted his right hand from the steering wheel and sent it to his hair. The clue he was looking for, Junpyo was analyzing her as he waited to see if the wild guess he made had any validity. His intuition he was trusting, the moment he saw the news on Sunday afternoon, he had put his private investigators to get him all the secured reports the police had collected about the case they would announce to citizens as an accident by Tuesday. Even though the news had made that claim, both knew the police were still investigating the case and some knew where it would point them to. The major leaders of the gang he had prosecuted months ago, the police chief was the first to blame the Kim Dragons but there was not a single evidence to even arrest anyone.

" Why would you think I have anything to do with that?" she had used her turn to no advantage.

" aren't you a member of some gang?" Junpyo smiled, they were both tiptoeing around all the information they weren't willing to share with each other.

" haha, you're funny" she tried using humor to help organize her thoughts.

" You think I would dare touch a prosecutor" Bom, who had never approved of the approach she had taken to get the info on the man she was looking for, she was finally understanding why. She had underestimated Junpyo's curiosity and ability to connect the dots with some clues. She should have listened to Bom and avoided getting close to these boys.

" I am sure this was nothing compared to what you will do to that person you carry that knife for" The words he hadn't thought much of, her reaction to it was what left Junpyo alarmed that there was truth to what he said. Her eyes quickly returning to the newspaper, he sent his eyes down to her hands. Her fingers quickly folding the newspaper were crossed after she placed the newspaper back.

" If I could attack a prosecutor, you think I wouldn't have done something to you?" trying hard to take control of the conversation, she asked. The answer to his question she would never provide, Junpyo decided to answer hers.

" You had so many opportunities but somehow you chose not to" his quick response to her, it was so clear he wasn't remotely worried about her physically harming him. The girl he had given her the right to kill him if she wanted to, he had even slept in her presence. Being drunk around her, giving her the opportunity to drive him off a clif, he had even given her access to his hidden house and she had done nothing to him. The only woman who was invited into all three of his houses, it was so obvious he was okay with her doing anything to him but the most he got was a slap and a kick.

" You had a chance to get rid of me " The words he knew how to use to leave her silent, Jandi had lost control of the conversation she had asked for as they were nowhere close to the information she was supposed to get out of him.

" You need serious mental help" she chose to attack.

" Why?" his smile, his dimples were finally showing up.

" Because I want to make your wish come true" he added forcing her attention to be back on his words her eyes she was forcing not to look at his adorable dimples, his eyes weren't a better option.

" don't you dream about killing me?" he asked as he got his answer from the baffled look on her face. His laugh he tried to silence, he kept brushing his hair back with both hands. His smile triggered something in her, and she chose to attack.

" I do. beating you to death, stabbing you, setting your car on fire" Her eyes turned to the road, Jandi continued. The ease in her voice , Junpyo's eyes that focused on her were caught off guard by the calmness of her voice as she started listing the various ways she fantasized about killing him. The harsh words she was using were the complete opposite of not only her voice but the calmness all over her face he started scanning. Her left side profile he was closely observing, he had been able to notice the tiny smile that escaped her lips as her imagination was bringing the scenarios she was listing to life.

" Strangling you" Her smile had gotten a title bigger as she thought of that one.

" using that ugly hair of yours to smash your head open" Her eyes slowly turned his way and landed on the hair she was talking about. The dark hair her eyes followed down to land on his eyes. The first red flag of the evening was waved for her when she noticed the look on his face. His eyes she had bewitched by her tiny smile and striking face, she had only herself to blame for the state she had him in. His eyes she was always ordered not to stare at, he was using their honesty to pull her into wherever it was he wanted to take her. The subconscious battle she was fighting against herself, she thought she had control over the choice she was making.

" I dare you to even touch it" his raspy voice had led the second red flag to be waved right in front of her. The inviting tone hidden behind his words, Jandi's eyes followed as she watched his body leave the seat and come her way. His dark eyes, the second his long lashes blinked had turned even darker as she made out the natural dark lines. The beauty mark right under his right eye, her eyes he had held captive were lowerd to his lips that had smiled. His body that stopped moving, his face was what broke into her personal space. His right hand brushed his hair , he slowly lowered his head bringing it closer to her. Her eyes on his hair, Jandi had to control her right hand which was ready to give in to her desire.

One

Two

Three. he gave her some seconds but she knew better than to touch this man.

" How are you going to strangle me when you're scared to even touch me? '' Junpyo brushed the hair away from his face as he lifted his head back up.

" I am not scared of you" Her words were dismissed as he started smiling at her. A mistake he would pay for.

Her left hand he wasn't ready for, even Jandi was surprised by its speed as it was sent to his head. Her left hand grabbing his hair he brushed back, it was in an instant that his face was brought back to her. Her anger she had underestimated, the force in her grip had pulled him back to her as his face landed inches away from hers. Her fiery eyes looked down at his eyes that were looking up at her, all the anger in her was being communicated silently. With the tight grip on his hair, Junpyo wasn't even given a chance to react to that as her pull had brought his face back into her personal space. His shocked eyes looking up at her, it was odd how the fire in her eyes seemed more tempting from this angle as her scent took over his instincts. Not just her eyes, every part of her looked irresistible while she had him in her grip. The button he was never aware of, she had pressed it as every inch of his body was awakened and forced to accept the scary energy that had taken over it which he had no control over. A new desire she had unlocked in him, he only had himself to blame. His lips he ordered to shut, he swallowed the sound that had almost escaped his lips the moment his body had instinctively reacted to the tight grip and the way she pulled him towards her. His world she had forced to a crashing halt, she had other goals as her right hand was coming his way.

" Don't try me" her slow whisper accompanied her right hand that was sent to his neck. Her sweet voice he had a thing for even when she spoke regularly, she had pressed another button with her low whisper that was provocative enough to pull his captive eyes to her lips. His honest eyes he had no control over, they were the only weapon he had against her as they had lowered the guard that keeps his desires hidden. Her delicious-looking lips left, his eyes weren't hiding the only thought left in his mind as they made it clear what he wanted in that movement. What had taken over her, Jandi wasn't sure what was going on as her right hand landed on his neck. Her fingers gently touching his cold skin, it was odd how she could feel every breath he was taking. The technique she had learned on how to close people's throats from breathing, her focus was on that but only for a second. The unmasked desire in his eyes had disarmed her as she even felt him swallow his impulse down.

The space between the two of us

Has become full of your scent

A dizzying attraction, everything about me

Wants you more

The soft song of the radio, even that was fading away from their reality. Her tight grip on his hair, the soft hair her fingers were buried in, the tiny electrifying signals were sent front the tips of her left hands down to her toes. To balance that, her right hand on his neck was taking in the coldness of his skin she had dared to touch. The fire in her eyes she had transferred to his, it was odd how she could feel the heat emanating from his body she was holding hostage. While his body stayed captive, his eyes were his defense and they were saying the only thing he wanted her to know. If she needed it in words, the song playing was telling her the words he would never dare say to her anytime soon.

Can't get away, get away

I'm melting into you like this

We become one, It's chemistry

I just wanna dive into your heart

Drunk on you

D-D-Drunk on you

BEEEP - the loud scream of the car behind had alarmed the two who almost jumped from their seats. The scary sound, what was more horrifying was what could have happened if the sound hadn't woken them up. His anxious right hand quickly sent to the steering wheel, Junpyo pressed on the gas pedal. The traffic that had opened up, he had to speed up to catch up. His left hand busily brushing his hair had pulled his hoodie over his head as he hid his whole face away. In the small space he was locked in with her, there was no running away no matter how that was all he wanted to do. The deep breath he started taking, he had to close his eyes for a second as he shook his head to get back to reality. But none of it was even remotely close enough to help him deal with the chaos she had caused his body.

Whatever was happening to him wasn't normal.

" Huh," he sighed as his left hand was sent to save his lips from making any sound. The confusion and anxiety he was processing, his fidgeting hands were the easiest sign of the internal battle. The black fabric covering his body, he knew exactly why it all felt so warm all of a sudden. When it came to his body, he was too self-aware to know what was happening to him. That was why it was even more terrifying. What he had joked about earlier, he really needed to consider not being left alone with this girl ever again. His body she could have kneeling down at her feet with a simple touch, it was cute how he thought he had control over the distance he needed to keep away from her. He hadn't learned how she didn't need her hands to have him melting. Her voice and yes were enough to do that. Her touch was the finishing touch; the point of no return. What would happen to him if she ever touched him with any type of affection or desire for him: only God knows what that will do to him. Lucky for him he wasn't yet aware of how it wouldn't take much time before his body would beg to be hers and hers alone. His guarded heart he protected carefully, that was what he needed to protect from the girl that would ruin him. For now, his body was an easy sacrifice.